minnesotans are pretty intense about the great outdoors.  hunting, fishing, camping, boating, hiking, golfing, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing…  you name it, they do it here.  so needless to say, the stores where you buy all the gear to go do all that stuff are also pretty intense.  it’s really an experience in itself.  and since we tsais aren’t really the outdoorsy type, we spent memorial day weekend inside the nice, air-conditioned store while our fellow minnesotans were all off to their lake cabins to go do…  whatever it is they do.  about to enter the retail beast known as cabela’s (that’s phil with mikey and allie in the shopping cart…

both kids had their well-baby visits last week– mikey’s 2-year check and allie’s 2-month check.  mikey didn’t have to get any shots.  yay!  allie got 4.  boo!  so cute though, mikey got all concerned about allie when she was crying hard after getting her shots.  he ran over to her to pat her back and almost started crying himself!  such a good big brother. mikey’s stats — height:  32 inches (3rd percentile) weight:  23 pounds (3rd percentile) head circumference:  18.5 inches (11th percentile)   allie’s stats — height:  22 inches (25th percentile) weight:  11 pounds 6 ounces (50th percentile) head circumference:  15.25 inches (50th percentile)   so, mikey’s still a lightweight…

paying for an extra day in the airport parking lot:  $9 getting the car towed:  $50 having the mechanics check over the engine:  $140 discovering the true meaning of ‘minnesota nice’:  priceless   so…  we arrived back in minnesota wednesday night at 10pm.  we were all quite ready to get home and into bed after a long day of traveling.  got on the shuttle bus that would take us to our car parked in an off-site lot.  marveled at how we filled the bus’ baggage rack all by ourselves with our 2 suitcases, 2 carseats, double stroller, 2 diaper bags, laptop bag, and mikey’s backpack.  got to our car, loaded up, installed…

yesterday, we had the honor of dedicating baby allison to the Lord at church.  what a special privilege it was for me to dedicate back to the Lord the sweet, precious gift He has given me on mother’s day!  the vows we took reminded me once again of the high and holy calling of motherhood – both an indescribable joy and an awesome responsibility.  very sobering to know that phil and i are called to live out the gospel and the beauty of Christ to our children daily.  and daily we (i) fail.  yet the Lord is faithful and good and able to do in and through me what i…

we threw a party at our house the day after phil’s graduation.  it was great to see so many friends and loved ones, some of whom we haven’t seen in a couple of years!  we managed to fit 40 people in here and what a blessing it was to see our home overflowing with wonderful friends when we didn’t know a single soul when we moved here five years ago. in addition, it was great having my brother and his wife come stay with us for the weekend.  mikey usually takes a while to warm up to people, but he seemed to be quite comfortable with his uncle and auntie right away.  it was so nice to see him…